Of 799 substantive bills introduced this session, 210 created apparent conflicts of interest for the sponsors — or 26 percent of them. A similar review last year yielded almost identical findings, with 25 percent of all 2007 bills creating conflicts for sponsors.

Conflicts are so common this year that 71 of the 104 legislators, or two of every three, introduced bills that created such apparent conflicts. (A list of how many conflicts were identified for each member can be found at the PDF graphic link at right.)

Again, conflicts are not necessarily bad. But some of the more interesting ones noticed during the News review include:

• Rep. Jon Greiner, R-Ogden, is also the Ogden police chief. He introduced nine bills dealing with law enforcement. One would allow police chiefs, such as himself, to declare "no-gang zones." Known gang members could be arrested if they refuse to leave such areas or return to them within eight hours.

• Rep. Peter Knudson, R-Brigham City, is an orthodontist. He introduced the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Practice Act amendments, and medical insurance amendments.

• Rep. Patrick Painter, R-Nephi, a car dealer, introduced motor vehicle amendments.

• Sen. Dan Eastman, R-Bountiful, a former car dealer, introduced a bill about the Motor Vehicle Safety Inspection Advisory Council.

• Rep. Sheryl Allen, R-Bountiful, a foundation director for Davis School District, introduced a bill changing accounting and reporting requirements by such school foundations.

• Rep. Paul Ray, R-Clearfield, works for Sterling Mortgage. He introduced a mortgage fraud bill.

• Rep. Gage Froerer, R-Huntsville, a real estate broker, introduced four bills dealing with real estate law.

• Rep. Richard Greenwood, R-Roy, former Utah Highway Patrol colonel, introduced a bill to make not wearing a seat belt a primary offense for which officers can pull over drivers, and introduced amendments to the "not-a-drop" DUI program.

• Rep. Curtis Oda, R-Clearfield, is president of the Concealed Weapon Permit Holders Association. He introduced firearm amendments that would not require concealment of the firearm on a person who has a concealed weapons permit.

• Rep. Jim Dunnigan, R-Taylorsville, owns an insurance agency and introduced eight separate bills dealing with insurance issues. Over the years he has become the "go-to guy" on insurance matters.

"The (state) Insurance Department came to me this year and asked if I would carry some of these complicated matters for them," Dunnigan said, adding that he wanted the department to find someone else.

"But they asked who else could they get to explain this stuff" to legislators who know little about the technical aspects of insurance. "They asked, I agreed."